Cornyn praises the Senate’s passing of veterans’ death benefits bill

Sen. Cornyn is pleased that the ‘Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act’ passed the Senate

The Senate passed the ‘Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act’ on Thursday, that was called up by Sen. Cornyn. The bill will reinstate benefits such as funeral and burial expenses, death gratuity payment, transfers of remains and travel expenses for family members of fallen troops.

“Despite the delay, I’m pleased that Senate Democrats decided to join Republicans in making sure the surviving families of our men and women in uniform receive the support they are due,” Cornyn said in a statement.

Because of the Government Shutdown, military families were prevented from getting their emergency death benefits. Normally, the family of a fallen soldier receives $100, 000 within 36 hours of the death, in order to cover the immediate costs. Private charities stepped in for the government to take care of the families of veterans who were killed since the shutdown began, the Today Show reported on Wednesday.

“I am hopeful that this will be a temporary measure, and not a long term measure. But we are in it for as long as we need to be,” said Ken Fisher, CEO of the Fisher House Foundation on the Today Show.

On September 29th the H.J.Res. 91 bill passed the House of Representatives 425-0.

UPDATE: Friday October 11th

Thursday October 10th, Obama signed the H.J. Res. 91 into law. The Bill ensures that survivors of deceased military service members will be provided with death benefits for the fiscal year of 2014, according to a statement from the Press Secretary in the White House.